Britain gets first woman official poet

Britain named its first female -- and openly gay -- poet laureate on Friday, to follow in the footsteps of renowned bards such as William Wordsworth and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Carol Ann Duffy, 53, whose works are both popular and critically acclaimed, will produce poems for state occasions after being confirmed to the prestigious, 341-year-old post.

"I'm very honoured and humbled... not only when I think of some of the great poets who have occupied the post since the 17th century, but when I think of some of the wonderful poets writing now.

"The continuance of the laureateship is important because it properly draws attention to the central role that poetry can play in the lives of ordinary people," she said.

The poet laureate is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the government -- and was a job for life for most of its history, until former prime minister Tony Blair agreed a 10-year term with outgoing holder Andrew Motion.

Speaking alongside culture minister Andrew Burnham, she announced she would be donating the 5,750-pound (8,600-dollar, 6,500-euros) a year stipend which goes with the job to the Poetry Society.

But she joked about the other perk of the job: a "butt of sack" -- old English for a supply of wine, which nowadays equates to about 600 bottles of sherry.

"Andrew (Motion) hasn't had his yet, so I've asked for mine up front," she quipped.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown led congratulations to Duffy -- and confirmed that she, too, will have the job for 10 years.

"Poetry as an art form has inspired, excited and comforted people of all ages and backgrounds for so many centuries and Carol Ann follows in a tradition set by some of the most distinguished writers in the English language.

"She is a truly brilliant modern poet who has stretched our imaginations by putting the whole range of human experiences into lines that capture the emotions perfectly and I wish her well for her 10-year term," he said.

The literary honour was first conferred on John Dryden in 1668, followed over the centuries by Wordsworth, Tennyson, John Masefield and more recently John Betjeman and Ted Hughes.

Duffy, who has also written children's picture books, reportedly hesitated before accepting the job -- she has voiced reservations in the past.

After being passed over for it in 1999, she said: "I will not write a poem for Edward and Sophie ...No self-respecting poet should have to" -- a reference to the wedding that year of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones.

Her gritty, often witty verse has also included wry observations about royalty, government ministers and her poetic forebears, such as in "Translating the English, 1989" which included the lines:

"Welcome to my country! We have here Edwina Currie/and The Sun newspaper. Much excitement/Also the weather has been most improving/even in February. Daffodils. (Wordsworth. Up North.) If/you like ..."

As well as: "A tour of our wonderful/capital city is not to be missed. The Fergie,/The Princess Di and the football hooligan, truly you will/like it here, Squire."

Duffy's immediate predecessor made little secret of how difficult he found the job: having to produce poems to order for public events, whether or not the inspiration took him.

"Part of me is very relieved to give it up because it has taken over my life in a very profound and all-consuming way," Motion told the BBC before standing down, noting some of his low points over the last decade.

"I tried to write something for Prince William's 21st birthday in the style of a rap, because I thought 'he's a young person and I'll do it in a kind of humorous way' and I wish I hadn't done it really," he said.

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